Valencia Courses - 2019 Spring

Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.

Academics

You will enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester comprised of a language track plus electives in literature, culture, business or STEM fields. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.

Spanish Language Tracks

USAC offers intensive language courses grouped into tracks in which courses are taught sequentially (back to back) within one semester. If you have already taken the first course in a track, you do not have to take it again for credit, but you must audit it to be prepared for success at the next level. Language courses are small and typically have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each.

Host University Courses

The Universidad Politècnica de València offers direct enrollment courses for USAC students. These direct enrollment opportunities are a great way to become immersed in the local university and make friends outside of your USAC courses. Courses taken at UPV are reported by UPV on an official letter or certificate of completion with the grade earned. Work with your home academic advisor to determine whether such courses will be accepted for credit.

Select advanced STEM courses in English include:

Business for Engineers

Electronics

Fluid Mechanics

Materials Science

Thermodynamics

Field Studies

Deepen your academic experience by turning the optional Barcelona and Madrid Madrid tours into a 1-credit field study by completing additional academic requirements (readings, research, written assignments, reports, etc.) on the historical, cultural, and natural features of the region. Students who enroll in these 1-credit courses will keep a journal and answer a series of questions about the sites visited. After each tour you will have follow-up meetings with a professor in Valencia and take a final exam. The written work for the field study may be completed in Spanish or English.

Internships

USAC internships are rich resources for your academic and professional development particularly in your study abroad setting. USAC internships are considered courses and count as part of your credit load. They can be time-consuming, but are very worthwhile. Students are placed in a Spanish-speaking environment, with high exposure to culture and language, and must be able to communicate at an advanced language level. Interns earn credits but no financial compensation. The schedule and the number of work hours will be determined by the schedule of USAC courses.

Valencia internship opportunities fall into broad categories; USAC will attempt to place students in a field related to the student’s interest. Placement is not guaranteed by USAC, rather it will be determined by your application and supporting materials and an interview with the internship sponsor on site. Select opportunities in English may be possible.

Eligibility—registration in Track III or above, enrollment in the Valencia program, a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and preferred junior standing at the time of the internship. A refundable fee of $100 is charged and returned upon successful completion of the internship.

US Professors

Local faculty teach most USAC courses; however, the following US professors are also teaching as Visiting Professors.

Fall Semester:

Dr. Goff obtained degrees in Physics and Liberal Arts before earning his doctorate in pure mathematics. He also enjoys the humanistic side to mathematics and has recently applied his knowledge of Latin to translate mathematical papers from the 18th century into English.

Spring Semester:

Dr. Kenny Miller is a professor of Chemistry at Fort Lewis College. He received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Miller is a passionate advocate for scientific literacy in his classes. Dr. Miller was the recipient of the 2014 Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award at Fort Lewis College.

Course Descriptions

Advanced Spanish I

Fall (Spanish; 400-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 400-level; 3 credits)

This advanced level course of Spanish has been designed for students who have completed three years of Spanish and although they may manage in completing daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course offers the students the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve their grammatical accuracy in oral and written production.

Advanced Spanish II

Fall (Spanish; 400-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 400-level; 3 credits)

Advanced Spanish II has been designed for students who have completed more than three years of Spanish and although they may manage in daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course will offer them the opportunity to enhance the coherence and cohesion of their production, and to improve their grammatical accuracy.

Barcelona Field Study

Fall (200-level; 1 credit)

This field study course is designed to optimize the benefits of the Barcelona tour by providing a solid historic and artistic base for studies of Spanish language and culture. The point of departure for the course will be the sites visited on the tour of Barcelona and surroundings.

Biology I Lab

Fall (Biology; 100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (Biology; 100-level; 1 credit)

An introductory laboratory course focusing on scientific inquiry and investigation of cell and molecular biology principles, use of laboratory equipment, and metric system measurements and conversions.

Calculus II

Calculus III

Fall (Mathematics; 200-level; 4 credits)

This course is a continuation of Calculus II ; infinite series, three-dimensional calculus.

Emphasis in this course will be placed on understanding the underlying concepts rather than memorization: knowing why is the key to knowing how. We will cover selected sections in Chapters 12-16 of the textbook.

Dances of Spain

Fall (Dance; 100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (Dance; 100-level; 1 credit)

There will be an introduction to the meaning and “spirit “ of the dance, followed by the practice of the steps and movements without music and ending with the addition of music to the previously learned steps.

Dynamics

Elementary Spanish I

Fall (Spanish; 100-level; 4 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 100-level; 4 credits)

Elementary Spanish I (SPN 111) is a four-credit language course offered to students who are enrolled in USAC and have not taken any Spanish courses at college-level before. This course is designed to help non-native speakers of Spanish to acquire basic communicative competence by providing the opportunities to develop the basic skills of a language: listening, speaking, interacting, reading and writing. The main emphasis of this course is on communication and, therefore, class attendance is essential.

Elementary Spanish II

Fall (Spanish; 100-level; 4 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 100-level; 4 credits)

Elementary Spanish II (SPN 112) is a four-credit language course offered to students who are enrolled in USAC and have taken one course of Spanish at college-level or its equivalent before. This course is designed to help non-native speakers of Spanish to acquire basic communicative competence. It provides opportunities for the development of the basic skills of a language: listening, speaking, interacting, reading and writing. The main emphasis of this course is on communication and, therefore, class attendance is essential.

European Scientific Innovation and Society

Spring (Chemistry; 400-level; 3 credits)

Scientific innovation has arguably had the most significant impact on the course of human history than any other single factor. This writing intensive course will examine the science behind the most important European scientific breakthroughs and the effect that these innovations have had on human civilizations. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of systematic agriculture, fermentation of grain, the German chemical industry, and modern pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

General Chemistry I

Fall (Chemistry; 100-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Chemistry; 100-level; 3 credits)

This course is designed for first-semester general chemistry students whose academic plans require advanced study in chemistry. Fundamentals of chemistry including reaction stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, states of matter, intermolecular forces, solutions, and thermochemistry will be covered.

General Chemistry II

Fall (100-level; 3 credits)

Spring (100-level; 3 credits)

This course is designed for second-semester general chemistry students whose academic plans require advanced study in chemistry. Fundamentals of chemistry including properties of solutions, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry will be covered.

General Chemistry Laboratory I

Fall (100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (100-level; 1 credit)

This course provides the laboratory component to accompany General Chemistry I Lecture. It examines the fundamentals of chemistry including reaction stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, states of matter, and thermochemistry.

General Chemistry Laboratory II

Fall (100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (100-level; 1 credit)

This course provides the laboratory component to accompany General Chemistry II Lecture in examining the fundamentals of chemistry including solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and properties of inorganic and organic compounds.

Intermediate Spanish I

Fall (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

This course emphasizes learning the structure of the Spanish language. Classes are divided into three components: grammar/vocabulary, conversation and reading/writing, each of which is related to the themes covered. A review of basic elements, such as the present tense, ser and estar, preterit and imperfect, etc. is included. Prerequisite: two semesters of college Spanish.

Intermediate Spanish II

Fall (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

Intermediate II is a course designed for students who have completed a year and a half of college Spanish or its equivalent and want to learn how to use the language with increasing syntactic complexity and grammatical accuracy, paying special attention to the change of time-frames, as well as the expression of hypothesis and different degrees of certainty.

International Business

Fall (International Business, Management; 400-level; 3 credits)

Spring (International Business, Management; 400-level; 3 credits)

This course examines the challenges facing managers that are competing in a global economy. In particular, we will devote our attention to strategic management in a globally competitive environment and the role of culture in motivation, leadership, communication, negotiation, decision making, HRM practices, and the management of a multicultural workforce abroad or at home. We will cover the process of management based on both the macro (organizational) level of environment and strategy and the micro (interpersonal) level of culture and human resources.

Madrid Field Study

Spring (Spanish; 200-level; 1 credit)

This field study course is designed to optimize the benefits of the Madrid tour by providing a solid historic and artistic base for studies of Spanish language and culture. The point of departure for the course will be the sites visited on the tour of Madrid and surroundings.

Operations Management

Fall (Management; 300-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Management; 300-level; 3 credits)

To introduce students to the decision making concepts of operations planning, implementation, and control; to aid in the understanding of these concepts, and to provide a forum for written communication concerning operations management topics. The topics to be covered in this course include forecasting, customer service and inventory management, just-in-time production, supply chain management, and quality assessment and improvement in both services and manufacturing.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory I

Fall (Physics; 100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (Physics; 100-level; 1 credit)

The purpose of the physics laboratory is to allow students to witness the concepts and physical laws that are introduced in lecture. You will also be exposed to elementary laboratory techniques. Every class will have a short lecture introducing the procedures, concepts, formulas and instructions relevant to the experiment. The lecture will also cover what is expected in your lab-report; don’t be late. Attendance and participation is mandatory. Experiments will usually be performed in groups of two, but each student will turn in an individual lab report.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory II

Fall (Physics; 100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (Physics; 100-level; 1 credit)

The purpose of the physics laboratory is to allow students to witness the concepts and physical laws that are introduced in lecture. You will also be exposed to elementary laboratory techniques. Every class will have a short lecture introducing the procedures, concepts, formulas and instructions relevant to the experiment. The lecture will also cover what is expected in your lab-report; don’t be late. Attendance and participation is mandatory. Experiments will usually be performed in groups, but each student will turn in an individual lab report.

Professional Communication

Fall (English, Speech Communications; 300-level; 3 credits)

Spring (English, Speech Communications; 300-level; 3 credits)

Principles and practices that develop writing and communication skills for professional writing and document design for traditional and new media (letters of inquiry and application, resumes, email practices, social media PowerPoint etc.)

Spanish Composition I

Fall (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

This is a third year couse for students who have completed two years of Spanish at the college level or their equivalent. Emphasis is placed in improving the students´ writing abilities with the analysis first, and the subsequent production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics are reviewed in order to enhance and improve learners´ grammatical competence. The extensive reading of a short novel will accompany and strengthen the formal instruction.

Spanish Cuisine and the Mediterranean Diet

Fall (200-level; 1 credit)

Spring (200-level; 1 credit)

This course is designed to teach typical Spanish and Mediterranean recipes, as well as tips, serving ideas, and a bit of etiquette and customs. The lessons are arranged by meal, so that one can easily translate the lessons to real life cooking situations.

In addition to learning how to make appealing appetizers and entrees, students take several classes in baking and pastries. They learn tricks and tips that can be used in daily life. Students will spend time chopping onions, peeling potatoes, cutting meat, kneading dough and beating eggs, all of it under the supervision of the cooks who can teach them the tricks of the trade and correct any mistakes.

Generally, classes include one to two hours of explanations along with a practical hands-on component in the school (fully equipped and stocked kitchens where students cook).

Spanish Culture and Civilization

Fall (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

Fall (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 200-level; 3 credits)

Spring (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

Throughout this course we will try to give a global vision of contemporary Spain considering most relevant sociocultural aspects today. This will address both historical and sociological issues that provide the right tools to understand and assimilate contextually customs and behaviors of diverse Spain today

Statics

Fall (200-level; 3 credits)

Spring (200-level; 3 credits)

The engineering of mankind’s superstructure marvels all started with the basic statics of equilibrium (Newton’s First Law). This introductory course on statics (required of most engineering and architecture programs) includes topics of force decomposition, equilibrium of force systems, friction, centroids, moments of inertia, cables, beams, fluid statics, and work.

Survey of Spanish Literature I

Fall (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

A study of the development of Spanish literature through the analysis of literary movements and the comparison of the most important authors of each period from the 12th to 18th century. Texts from different literary genres are selected which demonstrate underlying ideas, idiosyncrasies of the Spanish people and universal values, as well as the literary characteristics of the works themselves.

Survey of Spanish Literature II

Spring (Spanish; 300-level; 3 credits)

A study of the development of Spanish literature through the analysis of literary movements and the comparison of the most important authors of each period from the 18th up to the 20th century. Texts from different literary genres are selected which demonstrate underlying ideas, the idiosyncrasies of the Spanish people, and universal values, as well as the literary characteristics of the works themselves.

Topics in the History of Mathematics

Fall (Mathematics; 300-level; 3 credits)

Students will gain a deep insight into the mathematical ideas of humankind, from ancient beginnings to the invention of Calculus. In addition to learning about the mathematics of historical cultures, such as Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, and Arab mathematics, students will solve problems using both old and new techniques. Through primary sources, students will follow mathematical threads from their early beginnings to the development of Calculus in Western Europe. There will be a research paper on a topic of the student’s choosing.

Windsurfing in the Mediterranean Sea

Fall (Recreation / Physical Education; 100-level; 1 credit)

Spring (Recreation / Physical Education; 100-level; 1 credit)

The objective of this course is to teach students the rudiments of windsurfing. Students from all backgrounds and levels of experience are invited to participate in the exhilarating experience of manipulating a sail and standing up on the board.